The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1887-06-23
ESSAY ON LIGHTNING.
Dissertation In Which Allusions to Sol.
ence Arc Carefully Avoided.


ence Arc Carefully Avoided.
Lightning is considered by scribes to
be one of the most difficult things to
write on, from the fact that it won't
hold still long enough.
It belongs to the genus Eli, since it is
so very likely to get there, or come near
it. When it starts to 60 anywhere it
does not pause along the road anywhere
to play marbles or take nap in the
fence corner, and, if it gets loose and
ever so small start of you, it is almost
useless for you to start after it to catch
| it. Quick is word of too many letters
for it. and space and time are not in its
bright lexicon. We see the flash be-
fore we hear the thunder, though it is
the latter that makes us jump. If the
lightning ever hits you squarely it is
hardly worth your while to wait to hear
the thunder. Lightning generally
comes in a bolt, but just how many
yards there are in bolt has never been
accurately measured, and it is one of
the greatest things to bolt in the known
| world, but it can not be bolted down.
You observe those red streaks issuing
from yonder cloud. Well, if you would
lay your hand on one of them and try
to feel how slick it was, you would find
that it would be too hot to mention
leisurely.
| Some people are not afraid of light
ming, but we always step aside and let
it pass, without ever trying to hinder
it. That is the best way. 1t is said
that it never strikes man swice in the
same place, but we don't see how it
should have any need to. You should
never get struck by lightning, but ii
you should be, never strike back. Some
men who are struck never say any
thing about it, and never growl and
cave around mad.
/ DIR. Franklin was the first man who
put salt on its tail and got it into bot
tie and securely corked it, though now
adays it is the fellow outside of the
bottle who gets corked. Prof. Morse
taught it to walk on the slack wire and
do various tricks; but there is a great
deal of lightning lying around loose
yet. Lightning goes for conductors,
but we never hear of any street cal
conductors getting struck by it.
II Scientists say that lightning is elec-
tricity, and that electricity is lightning,
which is about as close to it as they can
come without getting hurt. 1t is hard
for them to boil it down and precipitate
it to find out the ingredients, because il
is too apt to precipitate itself You car
not handle it without gloves, and if il
, was to slip down into your pocket you
would find it necessary to throw it out
as quick as possible, for it will eat !;
hole in the pocket. It will not be Ions
before it will be used in our coast de
tense to knock vessels into the water. al
dynamite is uow used to knock then
, out of water.
Lightning is certainly one of the mos
striking of the heavenly elements; littl
) fiashy, it is true, but how sublime and all
, inspiring! Watch that bolt issuing
from the dark bosom of that cloud; ge
, up on the fence SO you can get an .un
obstructed view of it. Don't take you
! eyes off of it. Observe those beautiful
zig-zags; how sharp are they at tn
! angles! Take my spectacles. All, lie
: me first wipe the glasses. Keep you
eyes on the bolt. See how it get
. nearer and nearer to the earth. Ism
/ it like fiery veinp Try this spy glas
/ on it; first get it to a focus. Not there
Over to your left more. 1t is going t
light on some tree, no doubt. All, ther
it has settled on the village steeple. ]
/ is going to stay there on the vane. No
. see, it has begun to slide down the spir
!. and the shingles, etc., get loose an
4 follow after it. but it will soon root it
4 way into the earth and the sexton vii
i put brick on the hole and keep it in
= When it lightens you should close th
: windows and doors: if you have you
: head out the window jawing at you
: neighbor, step back and put the windo,
!. down, even if he gets to have the La.
!. word. Send each of the family to
!. different room; it is unlikely that ever
\ / room in the house will be struck, s
!, some of You will be saved. Don't han
i around the kitchen stove where tt
3 hired girl is cooking, as lightning migF
come down the chimney and hit you, q
|, your wife come in the door, with th
!. same effect. Umbrellas attract Ugh
4 ming, so never ask another man I
: allow you to walk under his in a storm
4 Ii You are under tree and you motto
: the lightning climbing down it, yc
! had better run. Ii it takes after yor
then go it lively. Observe the distanc
it is from you and regulate your spec
d accordingly. If yon have any met.
a about you throw it away-money q
g anything else. Dodge around the tree
a with celebrity. If it turns to head yo
/. off shift your course without della,
d Anyway. don't let it get any nearer |
d you. and the result will be that it wi
3 get kind of tired out and disguised an
Is run into the ground. You can then S
1 !. l., "a